Peer faces backlash after describing people who eat fake meat as 'transgender vegetarians'

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A peer has faced backlash after describing vegetarians who eat "fake meat" as "transgender vegetarians".

Baroness Deech, the former Principal of St Anne's College, Oxford, was criticised by both vegetarians and transgender rights activists after making the comment on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday morning.

When asked whether she would eat vegetarian burgers made to taste like beef, which "bleed" beetroot juice, the Baroness replied: "No, I don't think I would, especially if this thing is being made to look as if it's bleeding."

The Crossbench peer implied people who want to eat something that resembles meat, they should have the real deal, and said vegetarians should stick to vegetables.

She explained: "If you do eat meat, you want to feel that you're somehow getting that protein into you.

"If you're going to be a vegetarian you should just go out and eat lettuce and spring onions and be done with it. I don't like this crossover really.

"It's sort of transgender vegetarianism."

The vegetarian "Impossible burger" which reportedly tastes similar to beef

She was roundly criticised on Twitter for her "transgender vegetarian" comment, with one listener calling her a "patronising idiot", and many accusing her of being transphobic.

Playwright Shelley Silas voiced her disgust at the comments, tweeting: "#ruthdeech what the hell is ‘transgender vegetarianism’?

"It’s offensive to the transgender community, just as anti-Semitism is offensive to you and me. Please think about what you say. @bbcpaddy #broadcastinghouse"

A confused listener tweeted: "Omg what? There is such massive ignorance around transgender.

"Why do people think it has anything to do with vegetarianism?"

#ruthdeech what the hell is ‘transgender vegetarianism’? It’s offensive to the transgender community, just as anti-Semitism is offensive to you and me. Please think about what you say. @bbcpaddy#broadcastinghouse

Another listener fumed: "A lady on the radio just referred to someone’s eating choices as 'sort of transgender vegetarianism' using the word transgender as a negative for some reason. Real #transphobia #live."

Some said she was being ignorant about advances in vegetarian food, with one person complaining: "Ruth Deech “Transgender vegetarianism” @BBCRadio4 what? Dismissive, very poor choice of words when talking about new inventions within the non-meat protein food options especially when yesterday was #TransDayOfVisibility"

Baroness Deech also aired her views on "snowflake" students, and said she wished they would take inspiration from the bravery of Malala Yousafzai, who recently visited her birth country Pakistan for the first time since she was shot by the Taliban.

The peer said she despairs of the "snowflake attitude of our students over here", bemoaning the popularity of "no platforming."

She said students "are closing down speeches which talk about transgender issues or - heaven help us - Israel" and said she wished they would all be more like Malala.

Complaining about students shutting down speeches, she commented: "universities are places where you should be able to say everything that's within the law.

"You have to adopt a certain attitude to be in the in crowd and there are things you cannot say.

"I'm dismayed at what has been going on in some quarters in the student world, really."